Lane changing signal device

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a signal for automobiles and more particularly to a signal device for indicating the driver&#39;&#39;s intention to change highway lanes.

United States Patent Inventor George A. Evers' 1015 State Line Road, Niles, Mich. 49120 Appl. No. 415,040 Filed Dec. 1, 1964 Patented July 20, 1971 LANE CHANGING SIGNAL DEVICE 5 Claims, 19 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 340/81,

340/74, 200/6127, 200/6 l .54 1nt.Cl 8601 1/26 FreldolSearch 340/74,81,

53, S4, 55; 315/81; ZOO/61.27, 61.34, 61.54; 174/1 17.6; 240/824, 8.25

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,244,990 10/1917 Koch r. 340/74 1,389,366 8/1921 Loder 340/74 1,663,740 3/1928 Varner et al.. 340/74 3,029,303 4/1962 Severino 174/1 17.6 2,673,906 3/1954 Butler 340/55 Primary Examiner-Alvin 1-1. Waring AttorneysMarmaduke A. Hobbs and Kemon, Palmer,

Stewart and Estabrook ABSTRACT: The present invention relates to a signal for automobiles and more particularly to a signal device for indicating the drivers intention to change highway lanes.

' PATENTEDJULZOIQTI 3,594,724

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GEORGE A. EVERS ATTORNEY PATENTEUJULZOISYI 3. 594,724

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VI'JTJTOR. GEORGE A. EVERS ATTORNEY standard automobile without' the, use.

LANE CHANGING SIGNAL DEVICE Withthe development of superhighways having multiple lanes of traflicmoving in thesame direction, the practice generally used by vehicle driversin changing lanes has been to signal their intention to do so by the use of the conventional turn lights, operating the'light on the side of the'vehicle adjacent the lane into which the vehicle will be driven. While most automobiles at the'present time are equipped with'turnlight devices which will automatically cease operation when the steering wheel returns the'front wheels to their straight forward position, i.e. when the turn has. been completed, the magnitude of the turn made in changing. lanes-is often insufficient to .causethe automatic mechanism to-operate, and consequently, the tum-signal continues to blink after the lane has been changed and the vehicle is'again being driven straight forward in .changing back to the original lane of traffic. These manipula- FIG. 5 is a further-cross-sectional view of the steering column, showing the details of the present lane changing signal device, the section being taken on line 5-5 of FIG. I;

' FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the steering wheel showing one of the controls for the present device, the section being taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 3;

- F IG.',7'is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of the present device, the section being taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 2;

' cross sectional views, the sections and lines 15-15 of FIG. 12; and

tions ofthe tum-signal controls under. thoseco'nditionsand/or the incorrect signals resulting from the failure of the automaticmechanism to turn off the signal'when the lane change hasbeen completed, often create a traffic hazard as well-as making the operation of the vehicle difficult and inconvenient while thepassing maneuver is beingperformed. It is therefore one of the principal objects of the present invention to provide a signal device or system for indicating the drivers intention to change lanes, which is convenient to operate'regardles's of the direction in which thelane change is made, and whichwill automatically cease operation as soon as the controlthereof is released by the driver.

Another object of the invention is'to provide a-traffic lane changing signal device which can quickly and easily 'be manipulated to operate the signal means without removing either hand from' the steering'wheel or-without requiring either. hand or the fingers thereof to reach from thewheel in.

. order to operate the control means.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a signal device of the aforesaid type whichcan be readily incorporated into theconventional tum-signal circuitry throughcontrolled independently thereof, and which can beweasilydnstalled onan. automobile, truck or bus either at the .vehicle factory or while the vehicle is in service.

A further object is to provide a devicefor signalling the'intention of I the drive to change lanes, which is simplein design, construction and operation, and which of any-special tools -or equipment and without. any specialskill or-training, and which doesnot interfere-with the' normal operation of the vehicle steering.;mechanism or the conventional electrical signal systems of the vehicles. r

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following. description and accompanying drawings,wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view. of a vehicle steering mechanism having the present lane changing signal device mounted thereon;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the steering wheel, showing the position of the controls for the present lane changing signal device thereon in broken lines;

FIG. 3 is another elevational view of the steering :wheel and a portion of the steering column, showingthepresent-lane changing signal device mounted thereon;

FIG, 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the-'steering column shown in the preceding figures,- the section being taken on line 4-4 of FIG: 1;

can be installed on any.

FIGS. 8-an'd 9 are fragmentary views of the steering wheel column and a portion of the control device represented in two positions, respectively;

FIG. 10 is a wiring diagram of the present lane changing signal device as incorporated in the signal system of the automobile;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the present signal device, illustrating the manner in which it operates in conjunction with the steering wheel;

FIGS. 12, 13, Hand 15 illustrate'one form of the control means of the present signalling device, FIGS. 14 and. 15 being being taken-on lines 14-14 FIGS. 16 through 19 show a modified control means for the signalling device, FIGS. 17, 18 and 19 being cross-sectional views taken on the respective lines of F IG. 16. 7 Referring more specifically to the drawings and to FIGS. 1

and 2 in particular, numeral 10 designates a conventional steering wheel, 12 the column for the steering wheel, and 14 a portion of the vehicle body in front of the steering wheel and driver compartment, including dashboard I6, steering wheel support 18 and windshield 20. The steering wheel consists of rim 22 and diametrically opposed arms 24 and 26, extending from hub 28 to the inner side of rim 22, the two arms being formed integrally with the'hub'and rim. While the steering wheel shown in the drawings is one form which is widely used in the passenger car automotive field, the present device may beused'with'other types of wheels having a different number of 'arms and-positioned at different angles-with respect to the rim and hub.

The present lane changing signal system consists basically of the blinkerlight on 'eitherside of the'front of the automobile, and blinker lights on each of the rear of the automobile, these lights being incorporated in part of the tum-light circuitry, and

a control for the two lights mounted "on the steering wheel near the rim thereof 'which can be operated'manually by the means. The controls can be readily and easily installed and v in unit 36. One of the'important features and connectingwires are secured to once installed,- do not in anyway interferewith the normal operation or'handling of the steering wheel by the driver.

The present lane changing signal device consists'of control buttons 30 and 32 mounted on the underside of arms 24 and 26,-respectively,-and connected to a slip ring contact unit 36 and brush ring 38, mounted on column 12' and wheel hub 28 for rotation relative to one another. The brush ring is'provided with brush elements which 'are mounted in elementholding members 38A and38B and which contact corresponding rings of the present invention is the manner in which the device is mounted on the steering wheel and column so that it can be attached in place while -thecar is being-serviced at a service station or service garage.

The two buttons and connecting wires initially have on the side to be placed on thewheel, a coating of tacky material 42 with a protective sheet-which isremoved when "the buttons arms 24" and 26. By the use of this type of construction, thecontact'unifand brush 1 rings are mounted on the steering column andwheel, and the buttons which are attached to ring 38 '42 of insulated cable 40 and from the by cable 40 are secured to the arms'by removing a backing sheet from the tacky side back-of the buttons, and the insulating material and buttons --are pressed firmly against the'und'erside of the two arms. This tacky material 42 on the 3 bled readily'and easily without the use of any special tools or equipment. The two rings 36 an'd38 may be mounted'on and secured to the column and wheel byany suitable means, such as by a'elamp or bracket attached directly to the column or wheeL or by tacky material initially applied to the inner sides of the two rings and protected by a removable strip of sheet material. Y Y

A cable 50 containing the wires leading to the signal'lights is attached atfone end to contact ring 36 and likewise contains adhesive material protected by a removable sheet. When the sheet has been removed, the tacky side of the cable is pressed firmly against the steering wheel column to secure the cable firmly .in place. so that it will not interfere with the normal operation of the vehicle. In view of the manner in which the two buttons 30 and 32 are operated, their position on theunderside of the arms of the steering wheel is likewise considered important, since they are in the natural positionto be contacted andoperated by the driver's fingers as he is making a rightor'left tum. 7 a

While the present lane changing signal device and control system therefor may be installed and connected to the lights at the front and rear comers of the automobile by 'various arrangements, either with or without direct use bf the standard electrical system of the automobi|e,'the embodiment of themvention illustrated in the drawings utilizes the turn-light systemfor theflane changing signal device lights and wiring. Hence, for a full'understandingof theinvention, one suitable diagram of the wiring has been illustrated in FIG. I and consists of seven contact rings 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62 and 63, allon the lower contact ring 36, with contacts 57, 58, 59 and 60 constraight forward, FIG. 8 represents the automobile making a right turn, with one of the contact brush rings completely dis engaged from the contact ring,- and FIG. 9 illustrates the au'- tomobile making a left-hand turn with both brush rings completely disengaged from the contact ring Referring tothe switch shown in FIGS. 12, 13,14and 15, the switch is normally in the position illustrated'in FIG. 14 with contacts 90 and.92 closed by movable element 94, thus completing the circuit to the brake stoplight signals in operation when neither button is depressed to indicate a lane change. When a lane change is to be made, button .96 is depressed, breaking the, contacts 90 and92 andcompleting the.connection at contacts 98, I00 and 102, contacts 98 and 102 being completed to maintain the brake stoplightsignals working when the button is depressed. When the pushbutton is depressed, contact element 94 makes contact with contact 100 which is connected to button wire 81 on the left button andwire 76 on the right button, andthereby actuates either theleft or'right front blinker lights- Dashboard tum-signal flasher lights are combined in frontof the firewall on opposite sides of the harness terminal T. ,Six wires'84, 85, 86, 87, 88 and 89 enter the terminal block and eight wires leave the block, the two additional wires 104 and 106 being connected tothe dashboard flasher lights. Contactelement 1 02 also completes the three-way contact when depressed asillustrated in 15 by making simultaneous contactwithterminal 98 t which is connected-with wires178 and 79,0fthe right and left nected to the right-hand button 32 as viewed in F IO, 10, and

contacts 60, 61, 62 and 63 being connected to the left-hand 1 button /Both the right and lefthand buttons make a com-- mon contact by separatebrushes on. contact brush ringf'38 through contact ring 60. Wires 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69 and-:70 are connected to contact rings 61, 57, 62, 58, 60,63 and 59, respectively,- and are incorporatedin the sleevclike harness or cable secured, preferably, to' the underside of the steering column, and are connected toharness terminal T. Button 30 is connected to the standard left rear stop-light by wire 80 to 7 ring 57 and wire at connection'88. The circuit is completed to the standard left frontblinkerlig ht by wir' e66 from contact ring 62-to the harness terminal T at connection 87 and wire 81 from the left-hand button 30'to contact ring 62 and intersecting wire 71 to turn-signal 83 on the steering wheel. The circuit is completed to the standard right front blinker light .by wire 67 from contact 58 to'harness terminal T at connection 86 and wire 76 from the right-handbutton to the contact ring 58 and. intersecting wire 72 from turn-signal 83 on the steering wheel. The circuit is completed to the standard flasher signal on the v automobile by wire 68 from contact ring to harness ter-' i minal T at connection '85 and wire 78 from the right-hand button andwire79 from the left-hand button to contact ring 60 and intersecting wire 73 connected to'tum-signal83 on the steeringwheel.-' Wire69from contact 63 to turn-signal 83 and wire 82 from the'left-hand button energize the left rear stanidard'stopli'ght'; Wire 70from contact ring 59 to turn-signal 83 and wit-e77 fromthe right-hand button energize'th'e right rear,

standard stoplight, and wire 74 from turn-signal 83 to the har ness terminal *T. at connection 84 energizes the standard since'the lane changing signal lights are only required during a small portion of the entire rotation of the steering wheel, a

relatively small section of the contact ring'is used, i.e. the con- ,tact brushes pass beyond the contact rings after the steering wheel has been moved. beyond'a relatively short predetermined rotation, as illustrated in FIG. 11. FIG. 4 represents the position of the steering wheel when the automobile is traveling buttons, actuating the flasher control under the hood.

he button modification shown in FIGS. l6f through" 19 is different in construction but substantiallythe same in operation as the switch of. FIGS. 12 through 15; consequently, similar numbers have been used to designate corresponding or equivalent parts inorder to facilitate a ready understanding of 1 the' construction and operation of the switch. This switch, while somewhat different in shape, likewise is secured tothe underside,of'thefarmsof theste'er'ing wheel and the wires therefrom to.theslip ring'contactunit are secured tothe-un- ..contact ring 6l'and wire 64 to the'male plug entering theha'rdcrside of the arms. i a v v i lt is seen frornthe foregoing construction that the present invention can be rcadilyinstalled on an automobile and com" I nected directly intothe turn-light electricalcircuitry little difficulty, whether during the manufacturing of the vehicle or while the vehicle is in service. When the driver. wishes to turn fronta lane into the lane on his left, he merely depresses buttori 30, thuscausi ng blinker lights ontheleft-hand side. to operate. As the wheelis, turned, thebutton ,isheld in its depressed condition until the turn outwardly has been completed. The button is then. released and the car driven in the'lane until the vehicle has passedthe vehicle ahead, forexample, and then button 32 is depressed and the steering wheel turned to maneuver the automobile back, into the original lane'. As the automobile enters the original lane,-the-button is released, thus turning of the lights. It is not-possible, with this construction and arrangement, to inadvertently leave the blinker light on after the turn hasbeen completed. Further,t=' the fdriver can readily depress the buttons without removing his hands from the steering wheel and without releasing his grip on the wheel or moving the hands from the .normal steering position. i

While 'ohlyone embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail herein, various changes and modifica-' tion sijmay be made without departing from the scope of. the invention. 1

Iclaim: liFor use with a vehicle having two signallights at the front and 'rtwo signal lightsat the. rear and a steering wheel and coluinn, said wheel having a rim, hub and two diametrically disposed radially extending arms connecting said hub and rim; a lane changing signal device comprising a control button unit for mounting on the underside of each of said arms adjacent to said ;"rim and having contacts therein, a layer'of material on the reariof said buttons for securing said units to the underside of saidarms, an electrical contact ring for mounting on said column, said ring extending less than half the circumference of said column and having a plurality of contacts, an electrical brush ring for mounting on said hub, said brush ring having radially extending members with brushes for connecting each of said button units to said contact ring, leads connected to said contacts and extending to said signal lights, said leads being enclosed in a cable of insulating material having a material thereon for securing said cable to said steering column, and leads connected to said brushes said brushes and extending to the contacts in each of said control button units, said leads being enclosed in a cable of insulating material having a material thereon for securing said cable to said steering column, and the brushes for each of said button units being adapted to ride off the respective end of said contact ring when the steering wheel is turned beyond a predetermined distance in the respective direction to interrupt the signal from the respective control button without interfering with the effective operation of the other control button.

2. For use with a vehicle having two signal lights at the front and two signal lights at the rear and a steering wheel and column, said wheel having a rim, hub and two radially extending arms connecting said hub and rim: a lane changing signal device comprising a control button unit for mounting on the underside of each of said arms adjacent to said rim and having contacts therein, a layer of material on the rear of said button units for securing said units to the underside of said arms, an electrical contact ring for mounting on said column, said ring extending less than half the circumference of said column and having a plurality of contacts, an electrical brush ring for mounting on said hub, said brush ring having radially extending members with brushes for connecting each of said button units to said contact ring, each of said brushes being so positioned relative to said ring that the contact therewith of one of said brushes will be broken before the contact of the other of said brushes as the steering column is turned in the direction of said one brush, leads connected to said contacts and extending to said signal lights, said leads being enclosed in a cable of insulating material having a material thereon for securing said cable to said steering column, and leads connected to said brushes and extending to the contacts in each of said control button units, said leads being enclosed in a cable of insulating material having a material thereon for securing said cable to said steering column.

3. For use with a vehicle having two signal lights at the front and two signal lights at the rear and a steering wheel and column, said wheel having a rim, hub and two diametrically disposed radially extending arms connecting said hub and rim: a lane changing signal device comprising a control button unit for mounting on the underside of each of said arms adjacent to said rim and having contacts therein, a layer of material on the rear side of said button units for securing said units to the underside of said arms, an electrical contact ring for mounting on said column, said ring extending less than half the circumference of said column and having a plurality of contacts, an electrical brush ring for mounting on said hub, said brush ring having radially extending members with brushes for connecting each of said button units to said contact ring, each of said brushes being so positioned relative to said ring that the contact therewith of one of said brushes will be broken before the contact of the other of said brushes as the steering column is turned in the direction of said one brush, and leads connected to said brushes and extending to .the contacts in each of said button units, said leads being enclosed in a cable of insulating material having a material thereon for securing said cable to said steering column.

4. For use with a vehicle having two signal lights at the front and two signal lights at the rear and a steering wheel and column, said wheel having a rim, hub and two radially extending arms connecting said hub and rim: a lane changing signal device comprising a control button unit for mounting on the underside of each of said arms adjacent to said rim and having contacts therein, a layer of material on the rear of said button units for securing said units to the underside of said arrns, an electrical contact ring for mounting on said column, said ring extending less than half the circumference of said column and having a plurality of contacts, an electrical brush ring for mounting on said hub, said brush ring having radially extending members with brushes for connecting each of said button units to said contact ring, leads connected to said contact and extending to said signal lights, and leads connected to said brushes and extending to the contacts in each of said control buttons, the brushes for each of said button units being adapted to ride of? the respective end of said contact ring when the steering ;wheel is turned beyond a predetermined distance in the respective direction to interrupt the signal from the respective control button without interfering with the effective operation of the other control button.

5. For use with a vehicle having two signal lights at the rear and a steering wheel and column, said wheel having a rim, hub and two radially extending arms connecting said hub and rim: a lane changing signal device comprising a control button unit for mounting on the underside of each of said arms adjacent to said rim and having contacts therein, an electrical contact ring for mounting on said column, interconnecting brushes and rings on said column and wheel hub, and leads connected to said brushes and extending to the contacts in each of said control ..button units, the brushes for each of said button units being adapted to ride off the respective end of said contact ring when the steering wheel is turned beyond a predetermined distance in respective direction to interrupt the signal from the respective control button without interfering with the effective operation of the other control button. 

1. For use with a vehicle having two signal lights at the front and two signal lights at the rear and a steering wheel and column, said wheel having a rim, hub and two diametrically disposed radially extending arms connecting said hub and rim; a lane changing signal device comprising a control button unit for mounting on the underside of each of said arms adjacent to said rim and having contacts therein, a layer of material on the rear of said buttons for securing said units to the underside of said arms, an electrical contact ring for mounting on said column, said ring extending less than half the circumference of said column and having a plurality of contacts, an electrical brush ring for mounting on said hub, said brush ring having radially extending members with brushes for connecting each of said button units to said contact ring, leads connected to said contacts and extending to said signal lights, said leads being enclosed in a cable of insulating material having a material thereon for securing said cable to said steering column, and leads connected to said brushes said brushes and extending to the contacts in each of said control button units, said leads being enclosed in a cable of insulating material having a material thereon for securing said cable to said steering column, and the brushes for each of said button units being adapted to ride off the respective end of said contact ring when the steering wheel is turned beyond a predetermined distance in the respective direction to interrupt the signal from the respective control button without interfering with the effective operation of the other control button.
 2. For use with a vehicle having two signal lights at the front and two signal lights at the rear and a steering wheel and column, said wheel having a rim, hub and two radially extending arms connecting said hub and rim: a lane changing signal device comprising a control button unit for mounting on the underside of each of said arms adjacent to said rim and having contacts therein, a layer of material on the rear of said button units for securing said units to the underside of said arms, an electrical contact ring for mounting on said column, said ring extending less than half the circumference of said column and having a plurality of contacts, an electrical brush ring for mounting on said hub, said brush ring having radially extending members with brushes for connecting each of said button units to said contact ring, each of said brushes being so positioned relative to said ring that the contact therewith of one of said brushes will be broken before the contact of the other of said brushes as the steering column is turned in the direction of said one brush, leads connected to said contacts and extending to said signal lights, said leads being enclosed in a cable of insulating material having a material thereon for securing said cable to said steering column, and leads connEcted to said brushes and extending to the contacts in each of said control button units, said leads being enclosed in a cable of insulating material having a material thereon for securing said cable to said steering column.
 3. For use with a vehicle having two signal lights at the front and two signal lights at the rear and a steering wheel and column, said wheel having a rim, hub and two diametrically disposed radially extending arms connecting said hub and rim: a lane changing signal device comprising a control button unit for mounting on the underside of each of said arms adjacent to said rim and having contacts therein, a layer of material on the rear side of said button units for securing said units to the underside of said arms, an electrical contact ring for mounting on said column, said ring extending less than half the circumference of said column and having a plurality of contacts, an electrical brush ring for mounting on said hub, said brush ring having radially extending members with brushes for connecting each of said button units to said contact ring, each of said brushes being so positioned relative to said ring that the contact therewith of one of said brushes will be broken before the contact of the other of said brushes as the steering column is turned in the direction of said one brush, and leads connected to said brushes and extending to the contacts in each of said button units, said leads being enclosed in a cable of insulating material having a material thereon for securing said cable to said steering column.
 4. For use with a vehicle having two signal lights at the front and two signal lights at the rear and a steering wheel and column, said wheel having a rim, hub and two radially extending arms connecting said hub and rim: a lane changing signal device comprising a control button unit for mounting on the underside of each of said arms adjacent to said rim and having contacts therein, a layer of material on the rear of said button units for securing said units to the underside of said arms, an electrical contact ring for mounting on said column, said ring extending less than half the circumference of said column and having a plurality of contacts, an electrical brush ring for mounting on said hub, said brush ring having radially extending members with brushes for connecting each of said button units to said contact ring, leads connected to said contact and extending to said signal lights, and leads connected to said brushes and extending to the contacts in each of said control buttons, the brushes for each of said button units being adapted to ride off the respective end of said contact ring when the steering wheel is turned beyond a predetermined distance in the respective direction to interrupt the signal from the respective control button without interfering with the effective operation of the other control button.
 5. For use with a vehicle having two signal lights at the rear and a steering wheel and column, said wheel having a rim, hub and two radially extending arms connecting said hub and rim: a lane changing signal device comprising a control button unit for mounting on the underside of each of said arms adjacent to said rim and having contacts therein, an electrical contact ring for mounting on said column, interconnecting brushes and rings on said column and wheel hub, and leads connected to said brushes and extending to the contacts in each of said control button units, the brushes for each of said button units being adapted to ride off the respective end of said contact ring when the steering wheel is turned beyond a predetermined distance in respective direction to interrupt the signal from the respective control button without interfering with the effective operation of the other control button. 